Saturday, June 30, 2012

A New Minigolf Blog! Who is the Putting Predictor?

Another day and another new Minigolf blog is up online!

The latest Crazy Golf blog is by a mysterious character who appeared shortly before the 2012 BMGA British Minigolf Championships, his/her name is The Putting Predictor!

You can read the blog here, and also find them on Twitter.

Who is The Putting Predictor???


What the Putting Predictor predicts doesn't appear to be 100% accurate, but is clearly controversial and quite amusing!

Related Blog Posts:

Check out the list of links to the right hand side of The Ham & Egger Files to see links to other Minigolf, Crazy Golf and Adventure Golf blogs and websites.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Minigolf Report – Richard Gottfried wins the Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship June Playoff

29th June 2012
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – Richard Gottfried wins the Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship June Playoff

Crazy Golf competition victory on the rooftop of Selfridges in London.

On Thursday 28th June Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried won the Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship Playoff for June on the 9-hole rooftop Crazy Golf course at Selfridges Department Store in London.

Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship June Playoff
Richard Gottfried - Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship June Playoff Champion

Having achieved one of the best scores during June on the London landmark and cake-themed course, designed by renowned ‘Jelly Mongers’ Bompas & Parr, Richard was invited to play in the three-round, 27-hole contest with eleven other competitors on the Par-21 course. Scoring rounds of 17, a course record equalling 15 and 16 for a total of 48(-15) Richard was three shots ahead of the runner-up.

On the 15th June Richard had scored a round of 18(-3) to qualify for the Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship Playoff. In winning the contest he received a trophy along with two signed books by Bompas & Parr.

Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship June Playoff
Richard Gottfried - Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship June Playoff Winner

Richard said “I’m incredibly happy to have won the Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship June Playoff. The course is one of the most imaginative I've played and very tricky but I managed to hit eight holes-in-one amongst a few dropped shots. It’s great that Selfridges and Bompas & Parr have re-introduced a Crazy Golf course to the rooftop, as back in the 1930’s Selfridges’ roof was home to one of the UK’s first Minigolf courses. I’m looking forward to playing in more events there this summer and I’d recommend people to give the course a play before it’s gone!”

Crazy Golf with Bompas & Parr Championship June Playoff
Playing Hole 9 of the Bompas & Parr Crazy Golf at Selfridges

The course opened at the end of May for The Big Rooftop Tea & Golf Party. The course has been installed on the roof of Selfridges as part of their Big British Bang celebration that is taking place during the summer of 2012. The summer installation will close on Sunday 2nd September.

Bompas & Parr Crazy Golf at Selfridges, London
Playing Hole 1 of the Bompas & Parr Crazy Golf at Selfridges

Ends

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Gottfried and Paul in London

While in London yesterday we spotted this (to let) shop on Great Portland Street.

Gottfried and Paul Shop on Great Portland Street in London


If me and my Minigolf rival (and new captain of the Midlands Minigolf Club) Paul 'Johnson Paul Johnson' Johnson ever decided to team up again it could be our team name...

Gottfried and Paul used to be Knitwear Manufacturers & Wholesalers.

Monday, June 25, 2012

A New Minigolf Blog by the USA's Jon Drexler

One of my international Minigolf rivals and a big name in the game Jon Drexler has recently started a new Minigolf blog.

The blog is called Have Putter Will Travel and has a great strap line of “Travelling the world playing miniature golf. There are far worse ways to go through life...”

Last month Jon and I were opponents at the WMF World Adventure Golf Masters in Hastings. As a member of the WMF Allstars team Jon defeated the Great Britain B Team that I was a part of in the fight for the bronze medal.


USA Minigolfer Jon Drexler (in black with whiteboard) scoring during the team final of the WMF World Adventure Golf Masters 2012 in Hastings

 
In his first blog post ‘Welcome to the blog/Intro’ Jon explains that through the blog he will be keeping people up-to-date with tournaments he plays in and his travels, results and an insight into the US-side of Minigolf compared to the European style(s).

I’m looking forward to reading more.

Check out the 'Links' section on the right hand side of the Ham & Egger Files blog for links to other Minigolf blogs and websites.

Minigolf Report - Richard Gottfried finishes 7th in the 2012 BMGA British Minigolf Championships

25th June 2012
Press Information
For Immediate Release

Minigolf Report – BMGA British Championships in Hastings

Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried achieves highest finish in a BMGA Major event to date.

On the 23rd and 24th June Luton Minigolfer Richard Gottfried returned to the Pirate Adventure Golf course in Hastings, East Sussex to compete in the 15th annual BMGA British Championships. In the 7-round, 126-hole tournament Richard achieved his best finish to-date in a British Minigolf Association Tour Strokeplay Major competition by finishing in 7th place of 35 players.

The first minigolf major of the season was won by Michael Smith from Oxford with a score of 205(-47).

Richard scored rounds of 35, 34, 32, 33, 35, 30 and 32 for a total of 231(-21), an average of 33 per round and 33 holes-in-one overall.

Richard Gottfried playing Hole 1 at the 2012 BMGA British Minigolf Championships


Richard said “I’m really pleased with achieving seventh place in very tricky weather conditions. I don’t think the wind stopped blowing once in the whole two days. I improved my score by nine shots from last month’s WMF World Adventure Golf Masters on the course and the practice I put in prior to the event paid off. Getting into the top ten places of any BMGA tournament is tough and to do it in a major event like the British Championships is brilliant. I was happy to score every round under par, with my two ‘worst’ scores being a pair of not too bad 35s.”

Since his BMGA Tour debut in 2007 Richard has competed in five BMGA British Championships and previously finished in 19th, 18th, 25th and tied 11th places.

Ends

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Playing Minigolf on the Selfridges Rooftop Crazy Golf course!

Playing the 298th Miniature Golf course on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour at the capital’s latest Crazy Golf course atop a roof on Oxford Street!


Minigolf and Crazy Golf in London - Selfridges

On the evening of Friday 15th June Emily and I made a highly anticipated visit to the brand new Crazy Golf course that has been installed on the roof of Selfridges as part of their Big British Bang celebration that is taking place during the summer of 2012. The course has only been installed for a three-month period so we thought we’d go there as soon as possible.

Minigolf and Crazy Golf in London - Selfridges
On the roof

The Big Rooftop Tea & Golf Party has seen a 9-hole London & Cake-themed Crazy Golf course!? The layout has been designed by world-renowned Jelly Mongers Bompas & Parr who have created the seven wonders of London in cake form as the obstacles!

Having not pre-booked tickets we arrived hoping to play on one of the walk-up tickets, we were initially told to return in half an hour as the course was a little busy so we headed for a wander around the food hall.

Minigolf and Crazy Golf in London - Selfridges
A view of the Bompas & Parr Rooftop Crazy Golf course at Selfridges

When we returned we were shown into the lift to gain access to the course and taken to the top floor. The theming and the design of the whole Tea Room and Crazy Golf area is very well done and looks great. The nice and friendly staff welcomed us and went over the process and rules before we paid to play.

Behind the counter there are some huge trophies – these are on offer to winners of the monthly Championship Playoffs! The leaderboard in the Pro Shop had the current leading score at -6, with the course having a par of 21.

Minigolf and Crazy Golf in London - Selfridges
Emily at the Tower Bridge hole on the Rooftop Crazy Golf course at Selfridges

After paying we picked up our putters, scorecard, brilliant minigolf pencil and what we were told were the only Gold Golf Balls in the world and headed outside to play the course.

Minigolf and Crazy Golf in London - Selfridges
Purple felt!

In our contest Emily scored a very respectable 21(par) which included two holes-in-one, while I won with a round of 18(-3) having shot three aces. There are some very tricky holes on the course and Emily had a little trouble and landed in the water on the 4th hole which is a replica of Tower Bridge! Luckily a fishing net and ball retriever were found and the ball was recovered from the murky depths of the ‘Thames’.

With my score of three-under I added my name to the leaderboard – the current leader had scored a round of 15(-6), while the best score on the 15th June had been a 16(-5). It’s great that the course is adding a competition element to the fun play too.

Minigolf and Crazy Golf in London - Selfridges
Emily's favourite hole on the Rooftop Crazy Golf course at Selfridges - Hole 5: St Pinbaul's

The course is well worth a visit, the staff was great and the whole look, feel and design of the course, scorecards and pencils is top notch.

Minigolf and Crazy Golf in London - Selfridges
Richard on the Big Ben Rebound hole at the Rooftop Crazy Golf course at Selfridges

The course was the 298th played and 497th visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006!

Minigolf and Crazy Golf in London - Selfridges
Hole 9 of the Rooftop Crazy Golf course at Selfridges

Back in the 1930’s the roof at Selfridges was home to one of the UK’s first Minigolf courses!

The Crazy Golf course is only on the roof of Selfridges until Sunday 2nd September 2012 so I would advise you get along and give it a go – who knows it may be another 80 years until you get a chance to play Minigolf on Selfridges roof!

Minigolf and Crazy Golf in London - Selfridges

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Friday, June 08, 2012

Results of a three town 'Octathlon' sporting challenge series

Sporting rivals compete in contests in Letchworth, Baldock & Stevenage

On Thursday 7th June I competed in a series of sport and games challenges against Dodgeball and Minigolf adversary “Rowdy” Russell Fenner. The ‘Octathlon’ event comprised of eight contests in three towns.

The contest ended up as an Octathlon, rather than a Biathlon, Duathlon, Triathlon, Pentathlon, Hexathlon, Heptathlon or Decathlon of events due to a mixture of us being unable to agree on a set number of contests to play and not actually planning the event further than setting what the first event would be!

The action began at the Letchworth Par-3 Golf Centre with a 9-hole round of Pitch & Putt. Both of us have previously played the course “a few years ago” so it was as level a playing field as it could be.

“Rowdy” Russell won the honour of teeing-off first with a preliminary round win in a game of Rock Paper Scissors. He promptly shanked the ball off the tee and landed in the heavy rough.

'Rowdy' Russell Fenner looks for a missing Golf ball

Choosing to play the Golf round early was a wise decision as the weather was fairly mild at tee-off, but took a turn for the worse later in the day. The round on the tough but fair Letchworth layout saw Russell score a 45(+18) while I scored a 38(+11) to take the opening win of the contest.

Following what would be the only true outdoor event of the Octathlon we headed inside for a game of Pool.

With Russell previously having the edge in Pool matches against me he won the Rock Paper Scissors game and let me have the break. The match was the closest we’ve had against each other, and after ‘Rowdy’ miss-cued on his first shot I thought I’d pick up a win. However, Russell won the contest to tie the Octathlon at one win apiece.

Playing Pool at Letchworth Par-3 Golf Centre

Next up, Darts. Not Russell’s strongpoint, but with one high double figure score of 78 punctuating a run of dismal throws he did manage to get down to a double. The round of Darts was played in a 301-straight-in, double-out format and saw me once again take the lead in the series with an escape of the ‘madhouse’ by hitting double-1.

The scoreboard from the Darts match at Letchworth Par-3 Golf Centre

With the games in Letchworth completed we headed down the road to  The Orange Tree Inn  in nearby Baldock for a game or Bar Billiards. Walking into the public bar at the Orange Tree there was a bit of a shock as the table was nowhere to be seen! Luckily after asking the barman we found the table had been moved into the other bar. It’s in a great position now with space to play shots from both sides. There is also a great old painting of the Orange Tree Pub hanging over the table.

Russell aiming for the 200-hole on the Orange Tree's Bar Billiards table

As Russell had never played Bar Billiards before we had a friendly warm-up contest. The match saw some steady, if a little low, scoring before the sudden-death shoot-out. With the score at 500 to 340 Russell needed to hit the 200-hole to win and after a few missed shots he nailed it to take the win in his debut game.

The Octathlon round kicked off after a short interval and the game was played in front of an audience of a man eating his lunch. It must have been the added pressure of having a spectator present that led to some of the most dismal Bar Billiards ever played. The man “having played a bit in his time” offered a few tips, but to no avail to either of us. The contest once again went to a sudden-death play-off, however Russell was in an almost unwinnable position and as I didn’t topple the black mushroom it stayed that way as I picked up a win 640 to 550, despite Russell once again nailing the 200-shot.

The new position of the Orange Tree's Bar Billiards table

The morning session of gaming action finished with a 3-1 scoreline and was punctuated by a sportsman’s lunch of Fish & Chips at the excellent Cox’s of Letchworth. Adequately fuelled for the final stretch of competition the two rivals headed down the A1(M) to Stevenage and the Hollywood Bowl to play a game of Tenpin Bowling.

Unfortunately due to it being half-term all of the bowling lanes were fully booked for the next two hours, so the next series of sporting endeavours, would have to be amusement arcade games-based.

First up in the arcade games was Air Hockey and a decisive 7-1 win to Russell to make the Octathlon series 3-2.

A 7-1 Air Hockey win for Russell in Stevenage 

The next contest was a battle at the Basketball Hoops shoot-out ticket game. Russell once again won the Rock Paper Scissors contest to see who would go first and ‘put me into bat’. I opened with a few good baskets before failing to score much more. My total to beat was a meagre 17. Russell stepped up and nailed 19 to take the contest to three wins apiece.

The seventh game and last of the three amusement arcade events was the Sideshow Shooting Gallery ticket-game. Winning the Rock Paper Scissors I let Russell play first to set a target score. Missing just one shot he ended with a good total of 190 points. This wasn’t enough though as I hit each of my targets and scored a perfect 200 and make the Octathlon 4-3 in my favour.

Sideshow Shootout in Stevenage

With time ticking on and the weather getting worse there were no other sports or games options in the area and so the final contest would be a best-of-5 Rock Paper Scissors match.

Rock Paper Scissors was a running-theme of the Octathlon due to both players’ history in the game, having competed against each other in the team contest at the 2011 Sportingbet UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships in London.

Throughout the day Russell had won most of the RPS ‘honours’ games and managed to keep his nerve to win the Rock Paper Scissors contest to tie the Octathlon at 4-4. Far from being a decision making tool, in this instance Rock Paper Scissors had merely been an (un)decider in the Octathlon event!

Another multi-sport contest is scheduled to take place between the pair of us later in the summer...

 
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Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Fun and Games at the Yattendon & Frilsham Village Fete

Competing in a Christmas Tree Throwing Competition & other games at a Summer Fete in West Berkshire!

Ahead of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee extended Bank Holiday weekend I had a look online to see what events would be taking place in and around the Abingdon-on-Thames area as we’d be down that way for the Bun Throwing in Abingdon.

One of my searches found that the Yattendon & Frilsham Fete in nearby West Berkshire would be taking place on Monday 4th June and amongst the entertainment, fun and games on offer would be Crazy Golf. Amongst this and the other traditional English fete attractions such as tombolas, raffle, coconut shy and a number of stalls the news item in the Newbury Weekly News said that the fete would also be hosting a Christmas Tree Throwing Competition!?

After a few wrong turns we eventually found the Yattendon & Frilsham Fete and saw that it took over the whole of the village. Scanning the Programme of Events for the afternoon we saw that we were still in time for plenty of activities including the Welly Wanging and a chance to watch a Guinness World Record Attempt for the “Largest Synchronized Morris Dance”! We also read that the fete has been running for over 220 years!
The Kennet Morris Men at the Yattendon & Frilsham Fete
We also spotted signs directing people to the Aunt Sally game, although this was found to be a Crockery Shy, rather than the game I know as Aunt Sally that is very popular in my home town of Abingdon and involves knocking a ball off of a metal spike with wooden sticks!?

Aunt Sally poster at the Yattendon & Frilsham Fete
Emily plays "Aunt Sally"

The first thing to do was find the Crazy Golf course that was meant to be there. Unfortunately there wasn't one at the fete, so we wouldn't be adding another played Miniature Golf course to our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour list.

While looking for the Crazy Golf course we found the the Christmas Tree Throwing Competition area, which was gathering quite a crowd.
Quite a crowd for the Christmas Tree Throwing Contest
The rules of the competition were quite simple, it was £1 per go and the person who threw the furthest in their category would win. By the time I had a go there were markers out for the best man, woman, boy and girl and somehow someone had managed to lob a Christmas Tree a fair distance and we'd guesstimate it was about 12 metres.

The Christmas Tree Throwing Competition Playing Field at the Yattendon & Frilsham Fete
In total I had three goes and on each occasion I beat the distance of the first marker (best girl’s distance), but only just!
Launching a Nordman Fir in the Christmas Tree Throwing Competition at the Yattendon & Frilsham Fete
The agony of the third throw in the Christmas Tree Throwing Competition at the Yattendon & Frilsham Fete
A great new sport, although quite bizarre to play during summer!? From what I can tell, the village of Yattendon has become very well known for Christmas Trees and the Yattendon Estate is one of the largest producers of Christmas Trees in the country.

Richard and a Christmas Tree
In the other 'throwing a green thing up a field event' Emily got fairly close to the women’s best position in the Welly Wanging contest with her two throws. I once again beat the marker, but was a fair way off the men’s best.

Emily Welly Wanging

There was also an Egg Throwing arena, but seeing how messy the competitors were getting we gave this a miss, although it does make a great spectator sport. Posters for the event also called the game "Chucky Egg".
 
The Egg Throwing Arena at the Yattendon & Frilsham Fete
At 3.30pm the Kennet Morris Men congregated in the village square for their attempt at setting the record for the “Largest Synchronized Morris Dance”. We’re not sure whether they managed the feat and we wondered how many other sites were hosting Morris Dances as part of the record bid.

The Guinness World Record Attempt for the “Largest Synchronized Morris Dance”!
Before we left we sampled some local cider from the wonderfully named Tutts Clump Cider. On the drive to the fete we’d seen the name Tutts Clump on the map too and found the name amusing. We chose to buy four bottles of three varieties of cider on offer, one of which was a special edition produced for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The Diamond Jubilee Cider from Tutts Clump

Tutts Clump Ciders

A great afternoon spent in a lovely English village.

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Tuesday, June 05, 2012

A Gottfried vs. Gottfried Crazy Golf Match in Abingdon-on-Thames

Playing the Abingdon-on-Thames Crazy Golf Classic

While in Abingdon-on-Thames for the town’s Bun Throwing tradition that was taking place for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee my brother and I had planned to have a Minigolf rematch following our last game in April. The weather was far too inclement to play on Sunday so we headed to the course for a match on Bank Holiday Monday.

The long third hole on the Abingdon Abbey Meadows Crazy Golf course

In the contest we once again faced-off at the Abbey Meadow Crazy Golf course. The match-up was played in slightly soggier conditions than our previous match, but thankfully the rain stayed away while we played.

Playing hole 5

Our play was nowhere near as good as in our April game, not that it was up to much then either. I once again picked up the win with a score of 34(+14) to 43(+23). Last time out the match was a lot closer when the result was 28(+8) to 31(+11).

Looking at the options while stuck in the ditch on hole 3
Jon plays out of the ditch on hole 3 of the Abingdon Abbey Meadows Crazy Golf course
Jon plays hole 4

The dates of the next Abingdon Classic and a Minigolf competition between Jon and I on a different course are yet to be set, but will hopefully be at a seaside and in nice weather.

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Monday, June 04, 2012

A 'Royal' Diamond Jubilee Garden Party in the riverside village of Benson

Spotting 'The Queen' & 'Prince Philip' in Oxfordshire today!

After a brilliant day of Diamond Jubilee fun in my old home town of Abingdon-on-Thames we headed back to Luton today by way of the Yattendon & Frilsham Village Fete and the riverside village of Benson. Driving through the village we saw a ‘royal’ garden party!

We spotted a right 'Royal' Diamond Jubilee Garden Party in the riverside village of Benson this afternoon!
'The Queen' & 'Prince Philip' enjoy a glass of wine at a 'Royal' Garden Party in Oxfordshire

More blog posts of our adventures, fun and games in Abingdon and beyond are to follow...

Saturday, June 02, 2012

Runner-up in a High Town Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Street Party Race!

High Town in Luton marks the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a Street Party with fun, games and races

To celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee the High Town area of Luton organised a Street Party on Saturday 2nd June 2012 from 2pm-6pm.

Luton - High Town Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Street Party
The competitors in the High Town Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Street Party 18-50 year-old's 60m Race under starter's orders

Part of the fun included a series of street races. After the children's races and before the senior’s Egg & Spoon Race I took part in the men’s 18-50 year-old 60m* sprint – and finished second!

High Town Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Street Party 18-50 year-olds 60m Race
And they're off...

In addition to the running races the special community celebration day had a number of events going on including a fancy dress competition with a royal theme, a cake contest, an interesting exhibition of old photos of the High Town area,  High Tea and a concert in the High Town Methodist Church Hall.


The running race was the second ‘track athletics’ pursuit I’ve undertaken in 2012. Back in March a bunch of us took part in the first-ever Ripping Yarns Hopathon at Hampstead Heath Athletics Track in London!

Links:

* It was more or less 60 metres I think